The '''Fourth Age''' began after [[Sauron]] was finally defeated, when his [[One Ring|Ruling Ring]] was destroyed, and all the Elves but one left Middle-earth for the [[Valinor|Uttermost West]].

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The '''Fourth Age''' began after [[Sauron]] was finally defeated, when his [[The One Ring|Ruling Ring]] was destroyed, and the [[Keepers of the Three Rings]] left Middle-earth for the [[Valinor|Uttermost West]].

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==Starting of the Fourth Age==

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The [[Third Age]] was held to have ended when the Three Rings passed away in September, {{TA|3021}}.

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In the records of [[Gondor]] Fo.A. 1 began on [[25 March]] {{TA|3021|n}}.<ref>{{App|A1}}</ref> This means a difference of 1420 years with the [[Shire Reckoning]].

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In the [[Shire]] however, the Fourth Age 1 was called {{SR|1422}}<ref>{{App|D}}</ref>, implying a difference of 1421 years and a continuation of {{FoA|1}} after {{TA|3021|n}}, instead of being the same.<ref>The discrepancy is noted in the [http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/f/fourthage.html Encyclopedia of Arda]</ref>

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For example, [[Legolas]]'s and [[Gimli]]'s departure is given as {{FoA|120}}, {{TA|3141}} and {{SR|1541}} (according to the latter system).

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==History==

==History==

There is no information on more than the first few centuries of this age, so it is not known when it ended, if it ever did.

There is no information on more than the first few centuries of this age, so it is not known when it ended, if it ever did.

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This age was (presumably) marked by the recovery of the [[Númenor]]ean kingdoms in exile ([[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]), the final ascent of [[Men]] and the total wane of the [[Elves]].

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This age was (presumably) marked by the recovery of the [[Númenor]]ean kingdoms in exile ([[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]), the final ascent of [[Men]] and the total waning of the [[Elves]].

History

There is no information on more than the first few centuries of this age, so it is not known when it ended, if it ever did.

This age was (presumably) marked by the recovery of the Númenorean kingdoms in exile (Arnor and Gondor), the final ascent of Men and the total waning of the Elves.

Further future?

Tolkien said that he thought the distance between the end of the Third Age and the 20th century A.D. was about 6000 years, and that in 1958 it should have been around the end of the Fifth Age if the Fourth and Fifth Ages were about the same length as the Second and Third Ages. He said, however, in a letter written in 1958 that he believed the Ages had quickened and that it was about the end of the Sixth Age/beginning of the Seventh.[4]

For a complete list of events during the Fourth Age, see the Timeline.